[center] [img]https://imgur.com/IYihMs5.png[/img] [img]https://txt.1001fonts.net/img/txt/b3RmLjg4LjdhYmJmZi5UR0Y1YkdFZ1NIbGhZMmx1ZEdoMWN3LjA/sabrina-destiny.regular.webp[/img][/center] [color=gray][i]Halloween Festival, Near the Ferry[/i][/color] [sub][b]Mentions:[/b] [@Punished GN], [@AtomicEmperor], [@Fernstone][/sub] [hr] The security blanket Mr. Devola had wrapped Layla in was still strong and all-encompassing. The feelings of nostalgia and sugar-pop happiness deep in her veins, matching the out-of-place smile on her face. It almost covered up the sound of a dog barking in the distance. Almost. Layla's heart did a little jitter, knowing all too well who’s raspy barking that was. She could instantly feel it. Skin crawling with goosebumps as she peered into the darkness, trying to discern the threat. No. Everything was fine. Even if her curse was following her, she wasn't afraid. She couldn't be afraid. She felt too good, too on-top-of-the-world. She stepped on a twig, and its audible snapped caused her to shriek in fright. Shivering. No. No, everything was fine. She was fine. She was with her friends, Britney, Sabrina, Mr. Devola, Linqian. Her curse wouldn't dare to touch her now. Not right now, no. A phantom hand crept up her arm, curling around her shoulder. Layla jumped, her head snapping back. Instead of seeing a hand, she instead saw… Mario? Running towards them. [quote=Mario][color=ffe63b]”Jie, why are you moving away? Why did you change? Jie, waiiiitttt!”[/color][/quote] Linqian seemed to react strongly at their presence. She pushed Britney and Mr. Devola on, trying to get some space between them. Layla stared on in confusion. [quote=Linqian][color=CD5C5C]”Who the fuck is this crazy guy, must be drunk off his ass, let’s go,”[/color][/quote] Layla pursed her lips. Linqian was acting downright suspicious. Why? [quote=Mr. Devola][color=f49ac2]"Gosh, well you were right about them being drunk Linqian; but you think I don't know who this is? Go easy on him, huh? You remember being his age."[/color][/quote] Huh. Mr. Devola recognized Mario. That meant the kid had to be some kind of friend, right? Actually. Layla narrowed her eyes as she looked at Linqian and Mario. They had an uncanny likeness. Were they… Family? Layla cracked a smile, waving her hand at Mario. [color=7ABBFF][b]“Hey! You should come join us; you know Linqian, right?”[/b][/color] [hr] [center] [img]https://imgur.com/ZVvc9qJ.png[/img] [img]https://see.fontimg.com/api/renderfont4/ywLOY/eyJyIjoiZnMiLCJoIjoxODMsInciOjI4MTMsImZzIjo2NSwiZmdjIjoiI0JDQkNCQyIsImJnYyI6IiMwMDAwMDAiLCJ0IjoxfQ/VHN1a2lubyAoTHVuYSkgSW5vdWU/playfair-display-regular.png[/img][/center] [color=gray][i]Halloween Festival, Temple's Booth[/i][/color] [sub][b]Mentions:[/b] [@AtomicEmperor][/sub] [hr] [color=ffbafd][b]“Remember, it's not so much him, but what he holds that you need to ascertain.”[/b][/color] Entrancing pink eyes stared over Luna as she looked up from the floor. A hand wrapped around Mother Cards's slender fingers, almost worshipful in its embrace. Luna couldn't look away even if she wanted to. And she didn't want to. [color=bcbcbc][b]“How will I know it's the right one?”[/b][/color] Mother Cards held a finger to her lips. [color=ffbafd][b]“You focus on him. Tensions are high in the city. No one is going far without their ward.”[/b][/color] Luna nodded, pressing a kiss against Mother Card's fingers before she stood. [color=bcbcbc][b]“Consider it done.”[/b][/color] [hr] Luna blinked behind her mask, brought back to the present moment. [quote=Temple Member][color=ed145b]"Sorry, Touka-chan, she just wouldn't get it. We don't have much left unfortunately, we've got an improvised Kebab and Salad combo that we're doing at five bucks with a free drink. Sound okay?"[/color][/quote] A fellow anime-lover. Luna pressed her mask, pretending to be overcome with fellow weebness momentarily. It looked as though she had slipped under the radar, and although she didn't know anyone here beyond her target, she had a feeling Mother Cards would give her the run down before long. [color=bcbcbc][b]“Sounds great, thank you.~” [/b][/color]She did a little twirl in her cosplay before fishing out a wallet and passing over some bills. [color=bcbcbc][b]“Here, this should cover it.” [/b][/color]She said, watching the exchange between Mr. Salamente and his fellow kitchen worker. Interesting. Dark colors. Yet a sense of family. Of community. They were close enough to be frank with one another. Not likely to toss one another under the bus, or abandon the other. So when the hammer eventually struck, it would need to be a good strike, one to shatter a block instead of a bundle of sticks. Luna stared for a long and silent moment, before a chill shuddered up her spine. She turned to see a brunette, curled and wispy hair, dressed Lolita style and holding a bear. A bear of which's eyes were… staring directly at her. Looking ethereal with the smoke drifting off it. Luna stared back, before her eyes narrowed flatly. She had to be looking at a ward, a channeler. The only question that remained was what it was for, and what it could do. She was counting on Leon being away from his other members, his [i]family[/i]. To give her an in. But in the face of this uncertainty, she wasn't entirely sure the place was left as unguarded as she once thought. No matter. She was here for one thing, and one thing only. Her gaze shifted to Mr. Salamente as he worked on her order, and paid special attention to his hands. [i]Did he have his knife on him?[/i]